1 Samuel 25

1Sa 25:1-9.

SAMUEL

DIES.

1. Samuel died--After a long life of piety and public usefulness,

he left behind him a reputation which ranks him among the greatest of

Scripture worthies.

buried him in his house at Ramah--that is, his own mausoleum. The

Hebrews took as great care to provide sepulchers anciently as people do

in the East still, where every respectable family has its own house of

the dead. Often this is in a little detached garden, containing a

small stone building (where there is no rock), resembling a house,

which is called the sepulcher of the family--it has neither door nor

window.

David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran--This removal

had probably no connection with the prophet's death; but was probably

occasioned by the necessity of seeking provision for his numerous

followers.

the wilderness of Paran--stretching from Sinai to the borders of

Palestine in the southern territories of Judea. Like other

wildernesses, it presented large tracts of natural pasture, to which

the people sent their cattle at the grazing season, but where they were

liable to constant and heavy depredations by prowling Arabs. David and

his men earned their subsistence by making reprisals on the cattle of

these freebooting Ishmaelites; and, frequently for their useful

services, they obtained voluntary tokens of acknowledgment from the

peaceful inhabitants.

2. in Carmel--now Kurmul. The district takes its name from this town,

now a mass of ruins; and about a mile from it is Tell Main, the hillock

on which stood ancient Maon.

the man was very great--His property consisted in cattle, and he was

considered wealthy, according to the ideas of that age.

3. he was of the house of Caleb--of course, of the same tribe with

David himself; but many versions consider Caleb ("dog") not as a

proper, but a common noun, and render it, "he was snappish as a dog."

4-9. Nabal did shear his sheep, and David sent out ten young men,

&c.--David and his men lurked in these deserts, associating with the

herdsmen and shepherds of Nabal and others and doing them good offices,

probably in return for information and supplies obtained through them.

Hence when Nabal held his annual sheep-shearing in Carmel, David felt

himself entitled to share in the festival and sent a message,

recounting his own services and asking for a present. "In all these

particulars we were deeply struck with the truth and strength of the

biblical description of manners and customs almost identically the same

as they exist at the present day. On such a festive occasion, near a

town or village, even in our own time, an Arab sheik of the neighboring

desert would hardly fail to put in a word either in person or by

message; and his message, both in form and substance, would be only a

transcript of that of David" [ROBINSON].

1Sa 25:10-13.

THE

CHURLISH

ANSWER

PROVOKES

HIM.

10-12. Nabal answered David's servants, . . . Who is David?

&c.--Nabal's answer seems to indicate that the country was at the time

in a loose and disorderly state. David's own good conduct, however, as

well as the important services rendered by him and his men, were

readily attested by Nabal's servants. The preparations of David to

chastise his insolent language and ungrateful requital are exactly what

would be done in the present day by Arab chiefs, who protect the cattle

of the large and wealthy sheep masters from the attacks of the

marauding border tribes or wild beasts. Their protection creates a

claim for some kind of tribute, in the shape of supplies of food and

necessaries, which is usually given with great good will and gratitude;

but when withheld, is enforced as a right. Nabal's refusal, therefore,

was a violation of the established usages of the place.

13. two hundred abode by the stuff--This addition to his followers

was made after his return into Judah (see

1Sa 22:2).

1Sa 25:14-35.

ABIGAIL

PACIFIES

HIM.

14-18. Then Abigail made haste--The prudence and address of Nabal's

wife were the means of saving him and family from utter destruction.

She acknowledged the demand of her formidable neighbors; but justly

considering, that to atone for the insolence of her husband, a greater

degree of liberality had become necessary, she collected a large amount

of food, accompanying it with the most valued products of the country.

bottles--goatskins, capable of holding a great quantity.

parched corn--It was customary to eat parched corn when it was

fully grown, but not ripe.

19. she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after

you--People in the East always try to produce an effect by their

presents, loading on several beasts what might be easily carried by

one, and bringing them forward, article by article, in succession.

Abigail not only sent her servants in this way, but resolved to go in

person, following her present, as is commonly done, to watch the

impression which her munificence would produce.

23. she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her

face--Dismounting in presence of a superior is the highest token of

respect that can be given; and it is still an essential act of homage

to the great. Accompanying this act of courtesy with the lowest form of

prostration, she not only by her attitude, but her language, made the

fullest amends for the disrespect shown by her husband, as well as paid

the fullest tribute of respect to the character and claims of David.

25. Nabal--signifying fool, gave pertinence to his wife's remark.

26. let thine enemies . . . be as Nabal--be as foolish and contemptible

as he.

29. the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the

Lord thy God--An Orientalism, expressing the perfect security of

David's life from all the assaults of his enemies, under the protecting

shield of Providence, who had destined him for high things.

32-35. David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord--Transported by

passion and blinded by revenge, he was on the eve of perpetrating a

great injury. Doubtless, the timely appearance and prudent address of

Abigail were greatly instrumental in changing his purpose. At all

events, it was the means of opening his eyes to the moral character of

the course on which he had been impetuously rushing; and in accepting

her present, he speaks with lively satisfaction as well as gratitude to

Abigail, for having relieved him from bloodshed.

1Sa 25:36-44.

NABAL'S

DEATH.

36. he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king--The

sheep-shearing season was always a very joyous occasion. Masters

usually entertained their shepherds; and even Nabal, though of a most

niggardly disposition, prepared festivities on a scale of sumptuous

liberality. The modern Arabs celebrate the season with similar

hilarity.

37, 38. in the morning . . . his wife had told him these things, that

his heart died within him--He probably fainted from horror at the

perilous situation in which he had unconsciously placed himself; and

such a shock had been given him by the fright to his whole system, that

he rapidly pined and died.

39-42. the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own

head--If this was an expression of pleasure, and David's vindictive

feelings were gratified by the intelligence of Nabal's death, it was an

instance of human infirmity which we may lament; but perhaps he

referred to the unmerited reproach

(1Sa 25:10, 11),

and the contempt of God implied in it.

David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to wife--This

unceremonious proceeding was quite in the style of Eastern monarchs,

who no sooner take a fancy for a lady than they despatch a messenger to

intimate their royal wishes that she should henceforth reside in the

palace; and her duty is implicitly to obey. David's conduct shows that

the manners of the Eastern nations were already imitated by the great

men in Israel; and that the morality of the times which God permitted,

gave its sanction to the practice of polygamy. His marriage with

Abigail brought him a rich estate.

44. Michal--By the unchallengeable will of her father, she who was

David's wife was given to another. But she returned and sustained the

character of his wife when he ascended the throne.